IMT and 5G Network Lifecycle: Architecture, Design, Deployment, and Operations Training Course

Day 1

1. Introduction and Ecosystem Overview

• Multi-perspective analysis of 5G standards: covering business strategy, standardization processes, implementation frameworks, transport mechanisms, RAN, Core networks, and DevOps practices.

• Clarification of associated terminology: 5G, IMT-2020, NG-RAN, NR, 5GC, and 5GS.

• Evolutionary continuity of mobile networks: seamless transition from 4.5G to 5G within 3GPP Releases 15–17.

2. IMT-2020 Vision

• User Equipment (UE) as a catalyst for change and driver of new requirements: extending the UE definition to encompass IoT/mMTC (sensors), RedCap devices (cameras), and UAVs (drones).

• Limitations of 4G/LTE, deficiencies in EPC flexibility, and challenges in transport network infrastructure.

• Emerging requirements for eMBB, URLLC, and mMTC: specific use cases and their impact on RAN and Core architectures.

• System-level requirements defining the 5G network framework.

• Transversal capabilities: Network Slicing, 5QI, CUPS, Multi-access Edge Computing (MEC), and Privacy by Design.

3. Physical Foundations of UE Communication with NG-RAN

• Basic radio concepts: Cell, Band, and Channel Width.

• Foundations of UE network access: radio protocol stack, MIB/SIB, Cell Selection mechanisms, and Physical Layer operations.

• Connection initiation processes: RACH (Msg 1-4), Paging, and RRC.

4. NG-RAN Architecture

• Logical separation of the gNB into Centralized Unit (CU) and Distributed Unit (DU).

• Functional split options and their operational implications.

• O-RAN as an alternative or reference framework and standard for RAN interoperability.

• Decoupling of the Control Plane and User Plane.

• The RRC protocol and its function in coordinating UE operations within NG-RAN and NAS tunneling.

5. NG-RAN Mechanisms and Procedures

• PDCP and Radio Bearers.

• Measurement processes: configuration, reporting, and application in other procedures.

• RRC Reconfiguration as a critical procedure for all NG-RAN operations.

• Carrier Aggregation and Band Combination strategies.

• The role of the AMF in NG-RAN coordination and the NGAP protocol.

• Handover procedures and mobility management.

Day 2

1. Transport Network Foundations

• Complexity of transport engineering and dispelling the "just cables" misconception: IP/MPLS as core technology.

• Segmentation into Fronthaul, Midhaul, and Backhaul: specific requirements, expectations, and applications (including eCPRI).

• Mapping 5QI from the 5GS domain to IP router QoS parameters.

• Distribution and synchronization of time and phase for radio transmission using PTP (IEEE 1588).

2. Inside the SBA Architecture as the 5GC Foundation

• Standard IT stack components: HTTP/2, JSON, and OAuth2.

• Communication mechanisms for Core Network Functions: Request-Response versus Subscribe-Notify models.

• Key Network Functions (NFs) regarding access handling and traffic termination from NG-RAN: NRF, AMF, SMF, and UPF.

• NRF as the central coordinator: Service Registration and Service Discovery processes.

• (Conceptual Overview) Stateless architecture and state storage for any NF using UDSF.

• (Conceptual Overview) Load balancing and proxy mechanisms via SCP.

3. Data Path and User Plane Separation

• Data flow from UE to 5GC: correlating NG-RAN interfaces (N2, N3) with NFs (AMF, SMF, UPF).

• AMF as the entry point for Control Plane: termination and demultiplexing of NAS and NGAP signaling.

• UPF as the core of the User Plane: user data routing implementation and GTP-U tunnel encapsulation.

• PDU Session Establishment call flow: End-to-End Call Flow including QoS Flow allocation.

• N4 interface (PFCP protocol), TEID allocation, and rules (PDR, FAR) linking radio traffic to external Data Networks (DN).

4. Subscription Management, Identity, and Service Policies

• Databases: UDR for structured data and UDM for subscriber processing logic.

• 5G-AKA authentication process involving AUSF, NAS key exchange, and the SUCI mechanism.

• PCF as policy manager and distributor: session, mobility, and SLA policies.

• Binding PDU sessions to PCF instances via BSF — a critical feature for IMS/VoNR.

5. Network Slicing

• Introduction to Network Slicing and S-NSSAI parameter identifier setup.

• AMF and SMF instance selection mechanisms based on service profiles via NSSF.

• Introduction to MEC, Uplink Classifier (UL CL), and Branching Point in UPF.

6. External 5GC Exposure and APIs

• SEPP for securing roaming traffic.

• Non-3GPP access: subscriber traffic originating outside NG-RAN via N3IWF.

• Exposure and integration with external Application Functions (AF) via NEF.

7. Analysis of Selected End-to-End Scenarios

• Initial Registration and PDU Session Establishment: querying NRF, AUSF credentials, fetching subscriptions from UDM, and policies from PCF.

• Path Switch Request and UPF relocation procedure for active sessions during Inter-gNB handover.

• Uplink Classifier (UL CL) mechanism at UPF and SMF levels for MEC scenarios and Local Breakout (LBO) routing.

• Paging and Network Triggered Service Request waking up UE on UPF initiative in response to downlink traffic.

Day 3

1. Transitional Architecture

• Overview of EPC and E-UTRAN architectures.

• 5G deployment options (Standalone SA and Non-Standalone EN-DC).

2. Coexistence of 5GS and EPS

• EPS Fallback and Redirect mechanisms.

• Hybrid implementations (PGW-C+SMF and PGW-U+UPF).

• N26 interface for Inter-System Handover procedures between MME and AMF.

• Analysis of EN-DC as the dominant variant of MR-DC (Multi-RAT Dual Connectivity).

• DSS (Dynamic Spectrum Sharing) as a spectrum-sharing mechanism.

3. Telemetry, Counters, and Data Correlation

• Monitoring phenomena via Counters and aggregating them into KPIs.

• Approaches to evaluating procedure correctness: Success Ratio, Failure Ratio, and absolute versus percentage values.

• Event correlation: tracking complex procedures lacking dedicated counters.

• Data normalization and broader perspective on orders of magnitude.

4. Anomaly Diagnostics and Log Analysis

• Identifying issues suggesting software or configuration errors (e.g., "Sleeping Cell").

• Statistical deviations and mapping Cause Values from 3GPP protocols to identify root causes of failures.

5. Chaos Engineering and Troubleshooting

• Fundamentals of managing an open-source 5GC implementation in a dev/cloud environment.

• Testing the Cloud-Native paradigm: replacing core microservice elements without interrupting operations.

• Intentional failure injection and observing failover behavior.

• Simulating NG-RAN degradation and correlating logs on the AMF side.